St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-01
DRAMATIC NOTES.

Inc opera season naQ Qulte pi1lliaut
opening last night. There was the crowded
house of st. Paurs elite society, the hand
some dressing of the ladies giving ulster to
the picture of loveliness as it shone underthe
incandescent illuminations. The splendid
audience was an evidence that EMMA ABBOTT
has lost none of her drawing power with the
st. Paul opera patrons.
The performance was the first representa-
ton In this city of MARcHETT1's opera 'Ruy
Bias the libretto of which is based on VIC
TOR HUGo's drama of TIL at name, the hero be-
ing identified in the traditions of the stage
with the picturesque and romantic figure of
FIGHTER. Perhaps the seYerest criu-
cism that can be made of the opera
is that it is dramatically heavy.
The music has all the warmth and
coloring that SO weighty dramatic
subject requires, and yet there is no elaborate
vocalization in its construction. 1t has rich,
flowing melody that falls most gratefully on
listening ears. while the orchestratiOn is ar
ranged to give beautiful and varied effects
The gems of the opera, briefly summed up, are
the grand f1orid aria of the queen in the first
act, vocal embroidery of great brilliancy-
which was sung by Miss ABBOTT with such
exquisite art as to elicit a most enthusiastic
encore. Then there was the sparkling song
by Casilda, in which Miss ANSANDALE won
her first triumph. Then follows the great
dramatic scene of the queen and the beauti-
full ensemble which closes the first act. The
prominent features of the second act are the
exquisite love duo the knighting of Ruy
Bias in the throne scene, the quinlette and
the chorus finale The third and last acts
special ornamentations are the queens
prayer, the grand trio and the death of Ruy
in ba affar HAVING Slain
Don Sallust.
Miss ABBoTT's rich costu ming is the one
elegant feature of the opera. She exhibits a
series of handsome toilets which won the
admiration of the thousand ladies in the au-
dience. In the first act she wore rich gar
ment of gold and white brocade, tandem
broidered all over with designs of golden
birds and bees flying through interaced
leaves and flowers. FELIX, the P;risian
modiste, was the designer of the dress. Her
second costume, made by WORTH, and worn
in the throne scene, is of ruby velvet and am
Der brocade, with antique sleeves of Spanish
style, high collar; and the whole costume
fairly glittered with silver and pearls. these
being also hand-embroidered, on the ruby
ground. The court mantle and train of I'M
usual length were of the same material as the
dress. The last costume, worn in the final
scene, is a beautiful black Lyons velvet.
hand-embroidered all over with jet, and an
tique Queen Anne collar.
''Ruy Bias was given by the Abbott COM
pany with a perfectly artistic Interpretation.
If there was anything displeasing i'll the per-
Torrance it was the fault of the opera itself.
and not of the company. Miss ABBOTT sang
the part of Marie Therese, the queen of
Spain, with great earnestness, simplicity ard
A e..
tralto voice has splendid showing in this
opera, the opportunities for brilliant vocal
1zation falling more 10 the contralto than
to the soprano. Miss ANNANDALEs merit
as an artist never fails of hearty
appreciation with st. Paul audience.
and the lightness and grace with which she
sang last night won lOudest applause. Signor
MIcHELENAs Interpretation of the title role
was a work of great refinement. His robust
tenor voice still retains its old-time impress
sive fervor. PRUETTE' S rich baritone was heard
with best effect i'll the concerted pieces. One
beauty of PRUETTE's voice is the distinctneSs
of articulation. And BRoDERICK's profound
basso never seemed in better tone than it did
last evening. All of these oId-time fayorites
received a hearty greeting. Miss BERTRAM,
the new star who has been added to Miss AB-
BoTT armament since the company was last
i'll ST. Paul, has an unimportant part in ''Ruy
Bias She has winsome face, and the au-
dience caught just enough of her bird-likc
notes to make them eager to hear more.
The chorus shows the same excellent train
ing that Miss ABBoTT's companies always ex-
hibit and the orchestra is perfect i'll its
work.
''Trovatore'' is the bill for tonight.
''Ruy Bias will be repeated at Saturday
matinee.